Last updated on January 16, 2024
The prefix per- can also used to make someone as/likes.
- istri (wife) → peristri (make someone to be his wife/ marry a woman/ wed)
In order to facilitate a smooth transition in pronunciation letter ‘m’ is added between the prefix ‘me-‘ and ‘per-‘. However, the first letter or initial ‘p’ from the prefix ‘per-‘ is retained. You add prefix di- for passive sentence.
- Budi memperistri gadis dari Surabaya (Budi wed a girl from Surabaya)
- Budi memperistri Dini (Budi is marrying Dini) – active
- Dini diperistri Budi (Dini is married by Budi) – passive
In this occasion, the word peristri could be replaced by persunting. It is a word that formed by root word ‘sunting’ (marry) + per- ‘prefix’.
- Budi mempersunting Dini (Budi is marrying Dini) – active
- Dini dipersunting Budi (Dini is married by Budi) – passive
Indonesia has strong patriarchal culture. Therefore the word ‘peristri’ and ‘persunting’ only applies to the ‘man marry woman’ context. You can’t say:
- Dini mempersunting Budi (Dini is marrying Budi) – active ?
- Budi dipersunting Dini (Budi is married by Dini) – passive ?
The taboo also reflected at the word peristri, there is no antagonistic word such as persuami – that refer to the meaning ‘make someone to be your husband’.